Between the 1920s and the 1940s, many German and Austrian Jews who were escaping persecution from the Holocaust sought refuge in Shanghai, China. While there is extensive research on the impact of the Holocaust in the West, I chose to explore the escape and patterns of migration to East Asia. In Shanghai, China, European Jews found refuge from the persecution and danger in their home countries. Exile in Shanghai was temporary and transitory, however, the stay was extensive and full of hardships. The German and Austrian Jewish refugee’s ultimate goal was to find a way back or to reach a destination that would become their permanent home. In the years leading up to World War II, during the war, and in the immediate aftermath of the defeat of the Axis Powers, the lives of these refugees paint a story of resilience and sometimes good fortune. Additionally, their experiences of exile in East Asia contribute to a growing study in German and East Asian international relations. Sources that have contributed to this study include historical accounts, primary documents such as visas, and fictional novels surrounding life in this era. Through this study, I have found insight into the stories of refugees and how their trauma from exile may paint a picture for further studies of displacement, exile, and even mass migration. This opportunity to conduct research with the help of my faculty advisor, Mila Ganeva, has further allowed me to combine my two majors of German and International Studies from an interdisciplinary approach of history, socio-cultural issues, and intercultural relations.
Presenter(s): Emma Bonnicksen, International Studies and German Major
Advisor(s): Mila Ganeva, Department of German
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